"Hard work pays off"

VBKI Young Professionals in conversation with Dr. Sigrid Nikutta

Text: Alexander Gehret | Head of VBKI Young Professionals

How do you become CEO of a group with over 30,000 employees? This was the central question when the young professionals welcomed Dr. Sigrid Nikutta, member of the VBKI Executive Committee and CEO of DB Cargo, to the discussion. With impressive openness and energy, she took the juniors on a journey through her career path - full of formative experiences, clear messages and encouraging insights.

"Top performance does not happen by chance," Dr. Nikutta emphasized right at the beginning. If you want to take on responsibility, you have to be prepared to invest time and perseverance. It quickly became clear that this attitude is not just a guiding principle, but a lived reality: she spoke of decisive decisions, of moments that required courage and of challenges that have shaped her - always combined with the firm conviction that commitment pays off in the end.

Her descriptions on the topic of balancing family and career were particularly interesting: "It takes organization, support and a lot of commitment," she explained. Her honesty on this point encouraged people not to have to choose between career and family, but to actively shape both.

Another key topic of the evening: networking. "Visibility creates opportunities," she concluded. Contacts are not only a valuable resource, but also a way to find support and make your voice heard at crucial moments. For the young professionals, this was clear food for thought on how important it is to cultivate relationships and make their own work visible.

Dr. Nikutta gave a direct and approachable impression that success is not a distant goal, but is the result of clear decisions, perseverance and the joy of responsibility.

At the end of the event, the juniors exchanged ideas in a relaxed atmosphere at Frederick's Bar. Dr. Nikutta's suggestions were reflected on over drinks and exciting conversations and the opportunity was taken to expand the personal network.

A big thank you goes to Dr. Sigrid Nikutta for her time, her openness and the inspiring impulses.